Katy Perry opens up about her struggle to Ellen

It’s hard to believe Katy Perry was dropped by three record labels before making it big. She opened up to Ellen about overcoming all those ‘nos’ she received from the industry and her family.

She said she had a strict upbringing and wasn’t allowed to listen to secular music. The industry was wary also, she speculated, because her vision was so strong.

“I just never accepted that,” she said. “A lot of people wanted me to be like someone — whether it was a Kelly Clarkson or an Avril Lavigne — and I was like ‘ Well I wanna be Katy Perry first’ and they didn’t really understand that.

Katy’s upcoming movie Part of Me will delve into her struggle. “Sometimes people think that we’re perfect and we know we’re not at all,” she told Ellen. “I think it’s important to start breaking down the idea that to achieve your dream you have to be perfect or flawless or live in a fantasy world.”

Watch it here:

Brittany Mahaney is a regular contributor to ANDPOP.com and the former Online Editor. She obsesses over cat videos and boy bands, and often ends up on the weird part of the internet. You can follow her on twitter at @britt_mahaney or brittanymahaney.com.